12.10.2013

suddenly softened...Thoreau's Journal: 10-Dec-1854

Weather warmer; snow softened. Saw a large flock of snow buntings (quite white against woods, at any rate), though it is quite warm. Snow-fleas in paths; first I have seen. Hear the small woodpecker’s whistle; not much else; only crows and partridges else, and chickadees. How quickly the snow feels the warmer wind! The crust which was so firm and rigid is now suddenly softened and there is much water in the road.

Though this is my first post, I have been visiting this blog for years, and I want to say that I enjoy the posts of nature observations. I often compare the weather to that of what he describes or imagine the scenery of his excursions. I certainly have an interest in reading additional work of Thoreau, so I have purchased texts and I do intend on visiting this suggested link, but I don't feel the accusations of censorship are warranted. I am personally offended by the tranquility of this blog being compromised by the negative accusations and personal attacks on the blog owner who takes time out of his life to post something different each day for the entertainment of myself and others.

Censoring means prohibiting access to some information. We are not prohibited from reading Thoreau's journals or other works, fortunately, but not all of it has to go on this blog! This blog provides daily inspiration and enjoyment, and those unhappy with it should look elsewhere.

Anonymous@3:06 I am amazed that Perry allows your snarky BS on his blog. I have read much of Thoreau's works, and I would say that you need to look elsewhere and quit with your negativity. Perry does print "political" postings by Thoreau when they appear in the Journals, but there really aren't many of them compared with the Journal writings that are nature observations, as a perusal of the web site that you posted shows. I think YOU are "spiritually muddle-headed or some kind of PC wuss".

Wow...I drop in here periodically because I find the posts to be refreshing like a cup of cool water on a summer's day. And I find someone accusing Greg of censorship. Personally, I've for several years been amazed at his dedication to keep a daily posting regimen. And I find it interesting that the site we're directed to by "Anonymous" is itself a set of excerpts.

"Free in this world as the birds in the air, disengaged from every kind of chains, those who practice the yoga gather in Brahma the certain fruits of their works.

Depend upon it that, rude and careless as I am, I would fain practice the yoga faithfully.

The yogi, absorbed in contemplation, contributes in his degree to creation; he breathes a divine perfume, he hears wonderful things. Divine forms traverse him without tearing him, and united to the nature which is proper to him, he goes, he acts as animating original matter.

To some extent, and at rare intervals, even I am a yogi."

unediting thoreau

complete journals at walden woods

on-line Journal Transcripts

from Davidson Library UCSB

HDT Journals Political

from The Picket Line

An Annotated Walden

from The Thoreau Reader

the simple print

The Blog of Henry David Thoreau and its volume compilation is copyright 2004-2011 Greg Perry.

The text is from The Journal of Henry David Thoreau, ed. Bradford Torrey and Francis Allen, 14 vols. (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1906).

Each blog post is an excerpt from that day's entry in the Journal, and although not necessarily the complete entry, it is an integral and intact section thereof.

"It was a pleasure and a privilege to walk with him. He knew the country like a fox or a bird, and passed through it as freely by paths of his own.... One must submit abjectly to such a guide, and the reward was great." -Emerson

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Henry's Companions

Walden Eye in the Sky

Walking with Henry

one of the native forces

“Thoreau was a surprising fellow—he is not easily grasped—is elusive: yet he is one of the native forces—stands for a fact, a movement, an upheaval: Thoreau belongs to America, to the transcendental, to the protesters: then he is an outdoor man: all outdoor men everything else being equal appeal to me. Thoreau was not so precious, tender, a personality as Emerson: but he was a force—he looms up bigger and bigger: his dying does not seem to have hurt him a bit: every year has added to his fame.”